UK Retailers Face Weak November Sales as Black Friday Timing Skews Data

Sales dropped 3.3% year-on-year, reflecting delayed Black Friday purchases and strained consumer confidence from rising costs.

UK retail sales in November fell 3.3% compared to last year, marking the weakest performance since April, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The timing of Black Friday, which shifted sales into December's figures, contributed to the decline but did not fully offset the impact of low consumer confidence and rising energy bills.
Non-food sales, including winter clothing, saw a 2.1% drop over the three months to November, while food sales rose by 2.4%, significantly below last year's growth rates.
Barclays data showed a 0.5% decline in total consumer card spending in November, with essential spending seeing its steepest drop in five years at 3.1%.
Retailers are cautiously optimistic about a potential rebound in December but remain concerned about economic pressures influencing holiday spending patterns.